A Quick Tour of Bixby Memorial Library, one of Addison County’s Architectural and Cultural Treasures

The stained glass dome is several stories high and frames the rotunda from above.

This view from the second floor balcony showcases the central rotunda. The sculpture is "The Young Trumpeter" by Margaret Foley.

Our Community Room contains multiple volumes as well as three public access computers. WiFi is available 24/7.

The Vermont Room is named for longtime librarian Lois Noonan. The collection ranges from very old to contemporary acquisitions.

The Joe Kerr Meeting Room on the second floor is available for community use.

The second floor Museum contains an eclectic collection of items ranging from Native American artifacts to model gunboats from Lake Champlain.

Constructed of yellow tapestry brick, with Indiana limestone columns and Vermont stone foundation, Bixby Memorial Library is designed in classic greek Revival style around the central rotunda, with a stained glass dome overhead and four sets of three hollow steel columns covered with scagliola (to resemble marble) at the four corners of the rotunda on the first floor. Entering the building through heavy oak double doors, one stands in the rotunda, the large reading and reference room tothe left, the children’s room straight ahead and the main desk, stacks, mezzanine and Lois Noonan Vermont Room to the right. A marble staircase rises on both sides above the front entrance, leading to the second floor rooms and inner balcony. Accessed by three pairs of double doors in the reference room, the west-facing porch overlooks Otter Creek and the Adirondacks.

While contents of the two first floor display cases are changed monthly, permanent exhibits upstairs include the Bilhuber Native American Collection, local projectile pts, and military artifacts from the American Revolution and Civil War. Nineteenth century portraits, including one of William Bixby, paintings by Vermont artists, etchings by Luigi Lucioni, local engravings and lithographs, and historic photographs are hung throughout the building. "The Young Trumpeter,” sculpted by Margaret Foley. A collection of glass paperweights and a Cup plates are displayed to the right and left of the community room. The Bixby Memorial Free Library is listed on the National and State of Vermont Historic Register.